Crystal Clear Water

Academy Bay has the harbour that hosts the largest settlement in the Galapagos Islands located at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Its name was given in honour to the ship Academy which was part of the California Academy of Sciences (CAS). During 1905-1906, this institution made one of the greatest human and chronological efforts to rescue this lost paradise called the Galapagos Islands and was the first step to declare the islands a marine reserve.

Itinerary

Departure: 9am and 2pm

Travel Time: The pier is a 2 minute walk from our office and then only a short boat ride to the first snorkel site.

The Tour

The bay tour consists of visiting 5 sites. The Loberia is a small island about 10 minutes into the bay where there is a large colony of sea lions. It provides an excellent environment to swim with the babies and playful youngsters. Shark Channel and Lovers Channel are both lovely snorkelling sites and also beautiful places to take in the blue footed boobies who are regularly seen resting on the cliffs close by. Dog’s beach gives you opportunity to get off the boat and walk through cactus forests to a remote beach where you will almost definitely encounter a marine iguana or many, and turtles are often seen feeding just off the shore. The last site is Las Grietas, a water filled crevice in the rocks. The water is cool and clear and great for snorkelling, and if you dare you can join the locals in scaling the vertical walls and plunge gracefully or clumsily if it may be, into the water below.